Bottle support for compressed-air bottles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a bottle support ( 4 ) for compressed-air bottles ( 1 ), which is preferably used for the application of frames ( 5 ) and that is interposed between the compressed-air bottle(s) ( 1 ) and the frame ( 5 ). The inventive bottle support comprises glide inserts ( 3 ) that project from the surface of the bottle support ( 4 ) in the direction of the compressed-air bottles ( 1 ) so that every filled compressed-air bottle ( 1 ), when not braced, is received by the frame and can be glidingly moved. Under the action of force of a tightening strap ( 2 ) between the compressed-air bottle ( 1 ) and the frame ( 5 ) and thus a simultaneous action of force on the glide inserts ( 3 ), the glide inserts are sunk in the bottle support ( 4 ). The glide inserts ( 3 ) are configured as pins, knobs, buttons or ribs, at least two of the inserts acting on the periphery of one compressed-air bottle ( 1 ). They preferably consist of a synthetic material and are vulcanized, glued or buttoned into the bottle support ( 4 ).

The invention relates to a bottle support for compressed-air bottles asit is commonly used on support frames. The compressed-air bottles arestrapped to the bottle support and frame using a tightening strap. Thebottle support, which is usually made of rubber, compensates tolerances,ensures safe and nonskid tightening of the compressed-air bottles andhas a shock-absorbing effect (DE 35 40 516 A 1 or DE 195 41286 A 1).

These advantages of the bottle support are reversed when thecompressed-air bottles are mounted, however, as it is difficult to turnor move the compressed-air bottles once they rest against the bottlesupport. But the bottles have to be turned and moved as the fitting ofthe bottle valve must be aligned with the fitting of the pressurereducer to connect the compressed-air bottles; otherwise any slantedposition of the bottles may cause jamming and leaking in the jointsection of the bottle valve.

It is the problem of this invention to ensure that the compressed-airbottles can be moved on the bottle support when they are mounted. Thisproblem is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1 whileadvantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The inventive bottle support for compressed-air bottles that ispreferably used with support frames and interposed between the bottle(s)and the support frame comprises glide inserts that project from thesurface of the bottle support in the direction of the compressed-airbottles so that every filled compressed-air bottle, when not braced, isreceived by the frame and can be glidingly moved and that the glideinserts can be sunk in the bottle support under the action of force of atightening strap between the compressed-air bottle and the frame andthus a simultaneous action of force on the glide inserts.

The glide inserts are configured as pins, knobs, buttons or ribs, atleast two of the inserts acting on the periphery of one compressed-airbottle. They preferably consist of a synthetic material and arevulcanized, glued, or buttoned into the bottle support.

The spring action of the compressed-air bottle is thus achieved by thebottle support alone. Also conceivable is a variant in which the glideinserts are pressed against the compressed-air bottle using a spring, ora combination of both designs. The glide inserts can also bespring-mounted parts of the support frame that penetrate the bottlesupport.

If the bottle support is made of a highly elastic material, inparticular, of rubber it has proven useful to provide hollow spacesunderneath the glide inserts in the bottle support into which the glideinserts can be sunk. The glide inserts can also be sunk by beingelastically bent sideways and pressed into the bottle support or acorresponding recess therein. The decisive characteristic is that theglide inserts dip far enough into the bottle support so that the elasticbottle support can compensate variations between one or morecompressed-air bottle(s) strapped to it and the support frame.Naturally, the invention is primarily meant for handling compressed-airbottles on support frames. But there are other fields of application anduses wherever compressed-air bottles have to be moved for alignmentwhile resting on supports the greatest possible static friction is to beproduced between support and compressed-air bottle or container when thelatter are braced.

The FIGURE shows an embodiment of the invention:

The FIGURE shows a compressed-air bottle 1 that rests on glide inserts 3of the bottle support 4. The compressed-air bottle 1 can be strapped tothe support frame using the tightening strap 2 when the high-pressurefitting and the pressure reducer are connected. The glide inserts 3project from the surface of the bottle support 4 in the direction of thecompressed-air bottle 1 so that the filled compressed-air bottle 1, whennot braced, can be glidingly moved in every direction on them. Under theaction of force of a tightening strap 2 on the compressed-air bottle 1and thus on the glide inserts 3, the glide inserts can be sunk into thebottle support 4.

The force of pressure that the glide inserts 3 exert on thecompressed-air bottle 1 is achieved by the resilience of the rubberbottle support 4 into which the glide inserts are firmly inserted.Hollow spaces 6 are provided underneath the glide inserts 3 in thebottle support 4. The glide inserts 3 and the adjacent material of thebottle support 4 move into these hollow spaces 6 as a result of thetightening force of the tightening strap 2. The bottle support 4 isdimensioned not only for receiving the compressed-air bottle under thetightening action but also for compressing it somewhat.

When the tightening strap 2 is loosened, the glide inserts 3 protrudedue to the resilient action of the deformed portions of the bottlesupport 4, slightly lift the compressed-air bottle 1 and release it fromthe friction forces of the bottle support 4.

The embodiment shown uses two pins that act on the periphery of acompressed-air bottle 1 as glide inserts 3. When the high-pressurefitting and the pressure reducer are disconnected, these glide insertsallow exact inserting, tilting, panning and rotational movement of thecompressed-air bottle 1. This ensures that the screw fittings are intrue alignment when the high-pressure fitting and the pressure reducerare connected.

1. A bottle support for compressed-air bottles against which one or morecompressed-air bottle(s) are pressed using a tightening strap afterconnecting high-pressure fitting and pressure reducer, characterized inthat the bottle support (4) comprises glide inserts (3) that protrudefrom the surface of the bottle support (4) in the direction of thecompressed-air bottle (1) so that every filled compressed-air bottle(1), when not braced, is received by these and can be glidingly moved,and in that the glide inserts (3) can be sunk into the bottle support(4) under the action of force of the tightening strap (2) on thecompressed-air bottle (1) and therefore simultaneously on the glideinserts (3).
 2. The bottle support according to claim 1, characterizedin that the glide inserts (3) are configured as pins, knobs, buttons orribs, at least two of the inserts acting on the periphery of acompressed-air bottle (1).
 3. The bottle support according to claim 1,characterized in that hollow spaces (6) are provided underneath theglide inserts (3) in the bottle support (4) made of a highly elasticmaterial, in particular, of rubber, for sinking the glide inserts (3)into the bottle support (4).
 4. The bottle support according to claim 1,characterized in that the glide inserts (3) are sunk by resilientlybending them sideways.
 5. The bottle support according to claim 1,characterized in that the glide inserts (3) are pressed against thecompressed-air bottle (1) by a spring.
 6. The bottle support accordingto claim 1, characterized in that the glide inserts (3) consist of asynthetic material.
 7. The bottle support according to claim 1,characterized in that the glide inserts (3) are vulcanized, glued orbuttoned into the bottle support (4).
 8. The bottle support according toclaim 1, characterized in that the glide inserts (3) are spring-mountedparts of the support frame (5) that penetrate the bottle support (4).